What is Portland’s dining scene like?

In a word, Portland's dining scene is eclectic. There's a little something for everyone. From the fine dining experience offered at Portland's amazing steak restaurant El Gaucho, to the food cart pods throughout the city, diners have many choices. Two of the hottest food neighborhoods right now are in North Portland and in downtown's West End.

N. Williams Avenue boasts hot dining spots such as Kenny & Zuke's Deli Bar, Tasty n Sons, Las Primas Peruvian Kitchen and Lincoln. Many of these restaurants offer outdoor dining, so pick a nice summer day to sit outside and people watch while you sip and dine. With menu items ranging from the delightful empanada platter at Las Primas to the ruby trout with minutina, porcini mushrooms and lemon vinegar at Lincoln, you won't be disappointed. Also, you can currently catch Lincoln's chef and co-owner, Jenn Louis, on Bravo TV's Top Chef Masters. That's reason enough to taste what she's cooking!

Downtown's West End district is home to many of the city's newest restaurants. Within walking distance of downtown hotels, this area is a wonderful dining spot for visitors. As in other areas of the city, you'll find Portlanders out soaking up the dining experiences for themselves at places such as Grüner, Clyde Common, Grassa and Lardo. And, for a not so "brick-and-mortar" experience, check out the fantastic food cart pod on SW 10th and Alder Streets.

Bottom line: eating is a passion for those living in this great city, and it's clear why. With such an array of dining options, it's no wonder that diners looking for suit-and-tie romantic candlelight dinners or a casual bite to eat while strolling around the city will have no trouble finding something to delight their taste buds.